Matt in the Middle: I WANT YOU To Read My Blog!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

I WANT YOU To Read My Blog!

I have been up since 2:00 AM so I am tired and will probably keep this short (TWSS).

I voted at 7:00 AM this morning. I ended up voting

for some Democrats, some Republicans and a couple of Green Party candidates. I actually vote for the candidates rather than the parties. It doesn't really matter anyway since most of them mainly serve their own best interests from what I can see. I think a big problem with our political system IS the party system. Quite a few candidates are like members of boy bands (I took that analogy from a guy on CNN while I was waiting in one of those automotive waiting rooms) but it was a good one. I agree - they look good on television but they have no substance (so endeth his analogy). This part is mine...occasionally you end up with a Justin Timberlake or a Ricky Martin but for the most part they are just glitz and no substance.

I ended up not working today. I was supposed to work but the shift was canceled. It was either because or not because they arrested a suspect in the DeKalb murder case of NIU student Toni Keller. It turns out the guy they arrested lived right across from the park from where the murder occurred. He lived less than a mile from our house. Based on the charges against him if he is found guilty of all of the charges he may receive the death penalty. I imagine that will be years from now by the time all of the appeals and trials are through. That would be a cool jury to be on though I think it may be hard to remain impartial. I guess I could do that. Even though the murder... was performed we don't know for sure it was this guy. If all of the details I have heard are true he must never have watched a television crime show of any type because he sure made a lot of basic errors - thankfully (maybe I will blog about that tomorrow).

So, since I didn't have to work today I went to St. Charles and got the 4Runner tires today. One of my friends from my former job, when I was a contributing member of society,

hooked me up. Believe it or not I do have about five friends (and yes, that includes you). The 4Runner is a 2004 and it had the original tires; almost 109,000 miles. They were Dunlops - very impressed. The new tires do make a tremendous difference in the ride though. I didn't realize it was bad until I got the new tires. I accidentally did a couple of burn-outs with the new tires (not intentionally at first). The car still runs great and it's totally paid for - Toyota got a bad rap with their problems last year. This is the second Toyota I have had and they are the best two vehicles I have ever owned.

Alright - this is starting to get long (fill in the blank here). I have a lot more to write but I will write about Fabio's last four basketball games and a whole lot more tomorrow. Hey..we get an extra hour of sleep soon...well, an extra hour of awake for me I suppose. Blog you later political debater! TTTT...MITM!

3 comments:

StaceeNovember 2, 2010 at 8:05 PM
I heard an ad on the radio today and I think they stole your "middle" idea...it was for the Private Bank, and it used middle about 1ooo times!
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AnonymousNovember 2, 2010 at 8:39 PM
Great blog today Matt (er...greater than usual!) 109K on a set of tires is awesome! You really don't know the difference until you put a new set of shoes on her...then you go OMG!

Love the voting comment...it should ALWAYS be about the candidate...NEVER the party. To take it one step further, I've always said that we elect someone to vote the way "we the people" tell them to. I don't give a crap what his (or her) views, agenda or beliefs are. They are simply there to convey (vote) the way we tell them to...hence the title "Representative." At what point did it become about them? At what point did we start to give a shit about his or her views on gay marriage, abortion, etc... This should be a no-brainer. We tell them what to vote and they run their ass down to the House or Senate floor and vote that way. It should be a peon position, paid but minimum wage...a messenger if you will. Somewhere along the line it's morphed into a position of power and respect (ok, maybe not respect) and elitism. So when someone speaks of "taking the country back" it should refer to THIS ideal. Just my thoughts, for what they're worth. Blog on!
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Matt HelserNovember 3, 2010 at 9:19 PM
I haven't heard that commercial Stacee those rat bastards at Private Bank. I am still hearing all the ringing of political ads in my head. There is a television show called The Middle and there was Malcolm In The Middle so I guess I stole it too in a way.

Wow John you are spot on about the political scene and thank you for the encouraging words about the blog. I agree...if 51% of your constituents are for gay marriage or legalized marijuana or whatever it should be our Representative's job to fight for that for the majority.
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Matt In The Middle Blogssary

47% Rule - Matt in the Middle is 47 % estrogen
53% Rule - Matt in the Middle is 53% testosterone
Agitator (the) - Matt's podcast name (revealed in blog and podcast number 2
B. S. - blog stuff
Big Sexy - Jay Cole's drink of choice (Jack and Coke) - doesn't necessarily have to be Jack
Blogcast - our podcast (Dirty Laundry)
Bloggestion - now in Urban Dictionary meaning something suggested on a blog or taking a few minutes to understand (like suggested or digested)
Blogging Suit - like a NASCAR driver's racing suit with all of the sponsors patches
Blogssary - blog glossary
Blogisodes - episodes of this blog
BWAK - blogged with a kiss
Ca-Ching - the sound of the cash register as I try to gain sponsors that will never actually happen (I'm not really that delusional) - same as ka-ching
Cha Cha - revealed to be Sugar Momma's new name on premier podcast
Cheese & Quackers - our resident ducks. she is cheese and he is quackers
Ciaoloha - MITM's new mega-word "discovered" on Columbus Day 2011. It combines "hello," "goodbye," "love," "podcast" and "blog" into one happy little package!
Copyright - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
Dirty Laundry - our podcast/blogcast launched 4/1/11
Discomboobulated - a word Bret Michaels used on Celebrity Apprentice when he meant discombobulated though discomboobulated is an actual word
Fabio - the name my son preferred being called on the blog (the artist formerly known as Sparky)
Judii - the sister I never had but wish I did (my unofficial sister)
Ka-ching - the sound of the cash register as I try to gain sponsors that will never actually happen (I'm not really that delusional) - same as ca-ching
Kajunkles - used for people who don't know how to run correctly. Body parts moving against one another rather than together for the common goal of running (could be a noun, proper noun or a verb). Trying to accomplish something against seemingly impossible odds.
The Lost Sock - Cha Cha's brother (and my brother-in-law). One of the best people I have known in my life.
MADYM - One of my very good friends - Mary. She was given this name based on an acronym of her name by one of my other very good friends Stacee. Together they came up with the MITM theme song idea. She was also our maid of honor or matron of honor (I don't know the difference).
Middle - anything average or center (Middle of the country, Middle of life, average intelligence, a regular joe (or joan)...)
MITM - Matt In The Middle
Ms. Peabody - Maisy (our dog) because of Mr. Peabody
Nature Girl - Another very good friend- Sue. Given this name because of being a combination of Diane Fossey, Caroline Ingalls and Danielle Boone (lady Daniel)
Patent / Patent Pending - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
PFT - Plasma Fun Time - donating plasma - twice a week.
Roz - my pink/fuchsia i-pod nano. Named for Roz Kelly who played Pinky Tuscadero on tv's Happy Days. She goes with me everywhere to play my life's soundtrack and measure my steps with her pedometer.
Sparky - my son's blog pseudonym (see also Fabio)
Splenda - my daughter's blog pseudonym
Sponsorship Patch - when I mention a known product to try to get sponsorships and want to put a patch on my blogging suit
Stacee - a friend from high school that is a great inspiration to me continuously. The Cosmos keep bringing us back together electronically (MySpace, Facebook, Blog...) even though we haven't "seen" each other for nearly thirty years.
Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheels theme song of MITM. Idea suggested by MADY and Stacee
Sugar Momma - my wife, Jill
Trademark - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
TTTT - Ta Ta 'Til Tomorrow
TWSS - that's what she said
WTF - why the face?

Potato Soup

Ingredients Needed:
1 - 32 oz. box Vegetarian Vegetable Broth (I used Swanson's)
can substitute with chicken broth if you wish
1 - package of Country Gravy Mix (I used McCormick's)
okay to use sausage gravy mix if you wish
1 - 26 oz. package of frozen hash browns

Cook hash browns in a large pot. Cook potatoes until slightly browned stirring often so as not to burn the hash browns. While the hash browns are cooking prepare the country gravy mix as directed on package. Once the potatoes are done to your liking slowly pour the broth into the pot with the potatoes and reduce heat and simmer until hot. After the potatoes and broth are hot add the gravy mix and continue to simmer until thickened. Serve and eat.

** special note...I like it extra spicy so I add an extra package of county gravy mix to the finished mixture and whisk and heat.

Just like I always say - add whatever you want (peas, onions...) and make it your own. And, as always, ENJOY!

Sangria Wine Recipe (reposted from 4/22/10)

I also made Sangria yesterday to honor Earth's goodness (truthfully so I could get lit). I am not a wine drinker because most wines are too dry in my opinion and I am not a big fan of cotton-mouth. I liked the movie "Sideways" though so I want to like wine. I was watching Planet Green a couple of days ago while I was cleaning the kitchen and folding laundry like a real man and Emeril Lagasse was making paella on "Emeril Green". He also threw in, as an after-thought, Sangria so I hit the record button. Well he did it very fast and didn't say measurements or anything but he gave the basics so I came up with my own recipe and I think it turned out well though I made A LOT! Sugar Momma says I am a man of excess - isn't that what "man" means? Anyway, here's my Sangria recipe but I suggest you might want to cut the volume down unless you are having a small country over for dinner:

ingredients (I would suggest cutting the liquids in half)

3 liters of inexpensive Shiraz (Frontera Mendoza 2009)
1 cup of Grand Marnier
1 cup of brandy
1 cup of lime juice
3 limes
3 lemons
2 granny smith apples
2 large oranges
12 oz. sugar
33.8 oz sparkling water (Pellegrino)
64 oz. orange juice
ice

In a HUGE bowl slice the fruit and cover with sugar, mix. Add Shiraz and stir. Add ice to hold the fruit under while it drowns in the wine. Add Grand Marnier and brandy and stir. Add lime juice, orange juice and sparkling water and stir. Let sit for awhile so the tastes blend. Taste and add ingredients to taste (I added a little more lime juice and sugar). Find the biggest vessel you own for storage (mine is a pot like they used in those headhunter movies to cook people which is now sitting on our stove). Sweet and fruity just like me. Share with your friends/neighbors and your boss at review time.

Caprese Paninis

Ingredients you will need:

good loaf of bread (I used Italian bread)
mozzarella cheese
pesto sauce (I used jarred Classico brand - found by pastas)
fresh basil leaves
extra virgin olive oil
tomatoes

And here we go:
slice the bread and brush extra virgin olive oil on both sides of each slice. Clean and separate basil leaves. Slice tomatoes. Grate Cheese. Lightly grill one side of each slice of bread. Flip the bread when lightly toasted. After flipping the bread spread pesto on the toasted side and top with shredded cheese while the other side toasts. Once the second side is toasted and the cheese is starting to melt remove it from the

grill and top with two slices of tomato side-by-side and put a basil leaf on each tomato slice. Remove another slice of the toast with the pesto and cheese mixture from the grill and place it cheese/pesto side down on top of the tomato and basil'd toast to form a sandwich. (They could just as easily be done in a frying pan or on a George Foreman Grill...)

Done! Very simple and delicious!